Johnny Depp is reprising his role as Captain Jack Sparrow for the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Photo: Supplied

Tight security for film production is nothing new, but the presence of star Johnny Depp, aka Captain Jack Sparrow, has prompted widespread interest in Pirates 5.

He'll be joined on set by Javier Bardem, who will play the villain Captain Salazar.

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Bardem is well known for his malevolent onscreen characters, including assassin Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men and Raoul Silva in the James Bond film Skyfall.

Geoffrey Rush is the most high profile Australian cast member, reprising his role of Captain Barbossa.

However Cairns-born actor Brenton Thwaites has also been cast, playing Henry, a British soldier.

The 25-year-old studied at QUT Kelvin Grove and starred in the Brisbane-based drama SLiDE before a stint on Home and Away.

He moved to the US in 2012 to further his career, landing roles in Oculus and Maleficent.

An official statement from Walt Disney Studios has outlined details of the plot.

"A down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea...including him," it says.

"Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas."

It's understood official casting for extras began in October, with male actor picked instructed not to shave or cut their hair until they were confirmed as in or out in early January.

A source told Fairfax Media extras were sorted into three categories: pirates, villagers or British soldiers.

Those chosen to play soldiers were put through a bootcamp, learning how to march, hold guns and fire replica muskets.

There were concerns wild weather predicted to hit south east Queensland between Thursday and Sunday would halt work on the film.

However, a spokesperson for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 said while they hoped the weather wouldn't be as bad as predicted, contingencies were in place and filming would continue.

Pirates 5 was lured to film on the Gold Coast last year after intense negotiations with Screen Australia and Screen Queensland.

The federal government offered a $21.6 million funding package and the then-LNP state government slashed payroll tax to fend off a competing bid by Mexico and interest from other Australian states.

Pirates 5 is set to be the biggest movie ever filmed in Australia in terms of budget and size.

* If you have information about the Pirates of the Caribbean 5 filmingor you have spotted one of the stars, email scoop@brisbanetimes.com.au, sent a text to 0414 284 637, contact us via Facebook, or mention @brisbanetimes on Twitter.